Tech Whisperers: Inside the Playbooks of the Best Digital Leaders

In this episode, we are shining the light on a leader whose journey truly plays out like a movie. Sastry Durvasula has one of those rare stories that blends technical mastery, human-centered leadership, and bold reinvention. After starting out as an engineer, his career journey has included leading transformation for a number of big brand organizationizations. He’s now the Chief Operating, Information, and Digital Officer at TIAA, a $1.4 trillion, 100+ year-old financial institution. From film knowledge to navigating AI, uncertainty, and large-scale change, Sastry’s expertise knows no bounds, and now, you’re getting a front-row seat to tap into all of that leadership knowledge and insight.Tune in for expert advice from Sastry’s playbook, including:The challenge of solving yesterday, today, and tomorrow all at onceHow he uses reinvention as a superpowerHow to know when transformation has turned the cornerNavigating decision-making in the fog of uncertainty and leading with convictionFeaturing submitted questions from:Sathish Muthukrishnan, Chief Information, Data, & Digital Officer, Ally, Episode 50 GuestEileen Lash, Chief Administrative Officer, TIAANeal Sample, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Best BuySwatee Singh, CIO for Data, AI, & Corporate Technology, TIAAYogs Jayapraksam, Chief Technology & Digital Officer, Deluxe

In this era of accelerated disruption, leaders who have the right combination of clarity, courage, and conviction stand apart from the pack. GSK Chief Digital & Technology Officer Shobie Ramakrishnan brings all of that to the table—and then some! With her deep and broad experience in both biotech and hi-tech companies, Shobie has mastered the art of leading at scale, engaging the whole organization in digital transformation, and positioning herself to embrace what the future will bring. As Shobie shows us, the most successful leaders do more than keep up; they play offense. Join us as we unpack her leadership playbook and explore how to show up with purpose, navigate complexity with curiosity, and harness this era of rapid disruption to set our organizations up to thrive.Tune in for tips from Shobie’s playbook, including:How to build organizational agility and speedHow to engage the entire organization in digital transformationThe importance of “white space” for innovationShobie’s approach to talent strategy and development at GSKStrategies for success in the next decadeFeaturing submitted questions from:Diane Schwarz, Group CIO, Smurfit Westrock, Episode 79 GuestKarenann Terrell, Board Director, Technology Advisor, Former CDTO, Episode 48 GuestAdam Uphadyay, SVP & CDTO, Vertex PharmaceuticalsDeborah Waterhouse, CEO, ViiV Healthcare, President of Global Health, GSK

After years of interviews with dozens of incredible digital leaders, we’ve explored countless “answer the call” moments, and as we’ve seen, great leaders don’t rely on luck to receive those calls. They place themselves in the right place at the right time so that when the time comes, they are at the top of the list. Jeanine Charlton, the Chief Technology & Digital Officer at Merchants Fleet, is a perfect example of such a leader. In this episode, we are unpacking Jeanine’s customer-first, business-first executive playbook, which has included having responsibility for a $2 billion P&L and 3,500 people. We’ll explore the power of resilience, the discipline of operational excellence, and the value of mentorship and clear communication in leadership.Tune in for valuable learnings from Jeanine, including:How to lead in high-stakes, high-stress situations with limited time How to communicate with clarity and calmness amid chaosWhat has anchored Jeanine throughout her careerThe key skills and traits that have helped Jeanine achieve sustained successJeanine’s most important advice for women entering tech industriesFeaturing submitted questions from:Ralph Szygenda, Industry Executive & Advisor (Ret.), 2007 CIO Hall of FameKevin Torgerson, Independent Board Director & AdvisorAndi Karaboutis, Board Director of Aon, Perrigo, Savills, Autoliv, Advisory Board of  Decagon, iGreenTree.aiKurt Taylor, VP, Client Solutions, Merchants FleetChethana Halasinahalli, Sr Manager IT Applications at ONEOK, Graduate of TechLX Leadership ProgramSamantha Charlton, Entrepreneur, Gym Owner, Personal Trainer

This week, we are shining a light on Mike Anderson, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Netskope, to unpack the mindset and playbook behind his exceptional ability to “lift as he climbs.” Mike’s not your typical tech exec; he’s a business guy in an IT wrapper, someone who’s as comfortable in the boardroom as he is in the scrum room. From his early days at Schneider Electric to helping Netskope go public, Mike shares hard-earned lessons on balancing transformation with operational excellence, reshaping pressure into performance, and leveraging storytelling as a leadership superpower.Tune in for insights from Mike’s playbook, including:The importance of learning the business in your first 90 daysInstilling ambition and helping people aspire to moreSecuring buy-in for bold ideasHow he approaches his dual role leading Netskope’s strategy office and ITLearning from adversity and staying positiveFeaturing submitted questions from:Annette Clayton, Board Director, OshKosh, Nordson, Flash, NXP Semiconductors, & Duke EnergyAmanda Anderson, Senior Director, Integrated Marketing, Digital & Marketing Ops, NetskopeClint Clark, VP, IT Engineering & Architecture, NetskopeDanyel Bischof-Forsyth, Chief Technology & Information Officer, 7 Brew Coffee, Episode #73 GuestAlan Rankin, Mike’s Long Time Friend

This week, we are shining the light on one of the most intentional and inspiring CIOs in the game, Ken Piddington, Chief Digital, Technology, & Integration Officer at RelaDyne. Ken exemplifies what it means to be a leader who teaches, mentors, and communicates with purpose. Over the years, we’ve collected several of his “Ken-isms,” the short, punchy expressions that encompass his leadership philosophy, strategy, and core beliefs. In this episode, we’ll explore these pillars of his leadership playbook and dig into how he uses teaching in his leadership approach, giving you new insights on how to lead transformational change successfully for your organization as well as your people.Tune in for insights from Ken’s career, including:How to balance business results and team development“Anchor the Why”: Ken’s approach to vision and purposeThe relationship between execution and speedCharacter consistency and being the thermostat instead of the thermometerFeaturing submitted questions from:Mohammed ShareefKath Marston, Executive Director, Technology PartnersAlex Pore, Senior Director, Business Integration, RelaDyneStephen Webster, President, CEO, Founder, SIS Holdings Group

Mindy Simon’s path from a Nebraska farm to her current role as Chief Operating Officer of Aon, where she helms a 22,000-person global operation, is anything but conventional—and that's exactly what makes her story so compelling. Mindy’s a great example of how embracing your roots can empower your future, and in this episode, we are shining a light on why she is the kind of transformational leader everyone wants on their team. We’re unpacking Mindy’s transformational leadership playbook, which is built around a people-first mindset, a sharp focus on measurable outcomes, and a rare calmness under pressure. We’ll also explore how she has successfully led in finance, IT, and operations across multiple industries; how she ties technology to business growth; and what it takes to truly deliver value in a fast-moving, data-rich world. Check out Mindy’s Investor Day talk (Jump to 02:17:25 in the video) Tune in for valuable learnings from Mindy’s career, including:Early startup lessons and transformation at ConAgraTying IT investments to measurable business outcomesHow Aon is embedding AI across the client journeyHow and why Mindy applies a people-first mindset to leadingWhy disrupting yourself is better than being disruptedFeaturing submitted questions from:Steve Zerby, Award-Winning CIO, Advisor, Guest for Episode 17Annie Baymiller, CIO, Owens Corning, Guest for Episode 17Greg Case, Chief Executive Officer, AonAndi Karaboutis, 4x Board Director, 3x CIO, Guest for Episode 68

In this episode we’re shining the light on the leadership superpowers and industry impact of Diane Schwarz, Group CIO of Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable packaging. Diane’s leadership style is a unique blend of calm confidence, strategic clarity, and operational excellence that turns traditional roles inside out. You’ll hear why those around her refer to her not just as a CIO but as a Chief Integration Officer, Chief Inspiration Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and more.We will unpack how Diane masterfully led the IT integration of two global giants, and we’ll dig into her philosophies on listening deeply, mentoring with intention, and showing up with authenticity and vulnerability.Tune in for insights and wisdom from Diane’s journey, including:The power of clarity and assigning decision-making ownershipHow duct tape can make you a better listenerThe art of reading a room and unlocking team dynamicsHer approach as a Chief Instigation Officer and “going where the water doesn’t flow”Featuring submitted questions from:Nari Thouda, CIO, Johnson Controls Federal SystemsKim Mackenroth, CIO, L3Harris Technologies, Guest for Episode 21Mamatha Chamarthi, Chief Digital Officer for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Angela Yochem, Global CIO, Krispy Kreme, Guest for Episode 2Alice Brauckman, Senior Director IT, Digital Acceleration, Smurfit WestrockSobha Mulukutla, VP IT, Global Products & Supply Chain, Johnson ControlsMarina Bellini, President, MGS & Digital Technologies for Mars, Guest for Episode 39

In this episode of Tech Whisperers, we are joined by two experts who are shaping the future of AI in the enterprise, Dr. Lisa Palmer, CEO of Dr. Lisa AI, and Ashwin Rangan, CEO at DoubleCheck Solutions. Lisa and Ash are sharing a wealth of practical, actionable insights to help us uncover why AI initiatives stall out at the “messy middle” and what leaders can do to reignite progress and start generating real business value. Not only have both Lisa and Ashwin walked in the shoes of a CIO, they are also the authors of new books that will help you lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction in the AI era. Lisa’s book, Show AI, Don’t Tell It: Build Buy‑In with Visual Storytelling, releases on September 30 and is available now for preorder on her website. Ashwin’s book, Governance in the Age of Gen AI: A Director's Handbook on Gen AI, is available now on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.Tune in as we dig deep on AI at the intersection of technology, strategy, and leadership, featuring Lisa’s and Ash’s insights on:The “Speed with Rigor” PrincipleThe power of Right-to-Left thinkingThe key to sustaining momentum with AIThe long-term metrics that matterThe most important questions boards and CEOs should be asking about AI investments

Frank LaQuinta, CIO of Edward Jones, shares insights on future-proofing organizations while enhancing client experiences through technology. Abhi Dhar, CIO of TransUnion, discusses balancing vision and ambition during transformation. Martha Heller, a noted thought leader, delves into the evolving role of CIOs and the ethical implications of AI integration. The conversation encompasses leadership strategies, AI's impact on workforce dynamics, and the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Our CI4CI miniseries continues with guest Katrina Redmond, EVP and CIO of Eaton Corporation. As the world hits a historic inflection point in infrastructure — driven by AI, electrification, and massive investments in data centers and energy — Katrina is playing a pivotal role, helping lead one of the most mission-critical companies into the future.Join us as we explore how Katrina is spearheading Eaton’s digital strategy in this era of rapid innovation, leading with bold strategy, operational excellence, and a refreshingly human approach. Tune in for valuable nuggets from Katrina’s leadership playbook, including:An exploration of her expanded CIO role and Eaton’s evolving AI capabilitiesHow to get results in an age of uncertainty driven by AI advancementsHer “Embrace the Red” philosophy Her leadership team’s “Festivus” culture-building practice Her approach to servant leadership and building a culture of internal mobilityThe power of peer-to-peer leadership and community-buildingFeaturing submitted questions from:Karenann Terrell, 4x CIO, Eaton Board Director, Tech Whisperers Guest - Episode 48Ashish Gupta, CIO of NextEra EnergyCaroline Eberle, Gartner BD ExecutiveAmy Brady, Head of Technology, Operations & Services, KeyBank, Tech Whisperers Guest - Episode 66Mark Macioce, VP & CIO, Masco Corporation, Chair of NEOhioCIOAlison Magyari, VP, Global IT Business, Relationship Management, Eaton